GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA - Furman (9-3-5) unleashed an offensive barrage to defeat The Citadel (5-8-3) 6-2 in Sunday's Southern Conference matchup at Stone Soccer Stadium. The Paladins scored five second-half goals to overcome an early deficit and secure their first win in three matches.
Charlotte Seay put The Citadel ahead in the 42nd minute, but Caroline Moseley equalized for Furman in the 47th minute off an assist from Jenny Jacobson. Jacobson then converted a penalty kick in the 49th minute to give Furman the lead. Alice Williamson leveled for The Citadel in the 68th minute before Furman's explosive finish, which included two goals from Briyah Drayton (80th, 87th minutes), one from Katelyn Nixon (82nd minute), and Maddie Massie's strike in the 85th minute.
The first half saw The Citadel's disciplined defensive approach frustrate Furman's attack. Reagan Wise received a yellow card in the 6th minute for The Citadel, but the visitors maintained their shape. Cameron Martin registered The Citadel's first shot in the 20th minute, while Norah Roller tested Citadel goalkeeper Zoe Santos twice before the break. Seay's goal came against the run of play, capitalizing on a rare attacking opportunity.
Furman's tactical adjustments proved decisive after halftime. The introduction of Briyah Drayton and the repositioning of Katelyn Nixon created multiple attacking channels. Norah Roller received a yellow card for time-wasting in the 58th minute, but Furman maintained their momentum. The Paladins' pressure finally broke through with three goals in a seven-minute span late in the match, with Drayton and Nixon combining effectively in the final third.
The statistics reflected Furman's dominance, as they outshot The Citadel 16-9, putting 11 attempts on target compared to The Citadel's 4. The Paladins earned 5 corner kicks while The Citadel had none. Zoe Santos made 5 saves for The Citadel in a busy performance, while Furman's goalkeeper recorded 2 saves.
Briyah Drayton's two-goal performance highlighted individual excellence, while Bri Pinasco contributed two assists. Alice Williamson was The Citadel's most dangerous attacker with three shots, including her equalizing goal. Emma Sexton's creative distribution led to multiple Furman chances, including an assist on Massie's goal.
Furman's tactical shift to a more direct attacking approach in the second half overwhelmed The Citadel's defensive structure. The Paladins' superior depth showed as late substitutions Callah Dando and Emma Sexton provided fresh energy, contributing to the final three goals. The Citadel's attempt to maintain their compact defensive shape ultimately faltered against Furman's relentless pressure.
The victory moves Furman into stronger conference positioning, while The Citadel's road struggles continue. The Paladins demonstrated their offensive capability with their highest scoring output of the season, particularly impressive considering they trailed early. The Citadel showed promise in their first-half performance but couldn't maintain their defensive organization as fatigue set in.
Furman's next match is at East Tennessee State on October 29, while The Citadel returns home to face Samford on the same date. The Paladins will look to build on this offensive outburst, while The Citadel aims to regroup defensively after conceding six goals.